"Thank goodness for that." Lois relaxed a little as they drove off in the hire car on the three hour trip to Interlaken. "Even if he does follow us, at least we can talk now. So, Smallville, what is our plan when we arrive?"
"Do you have to make contact with them or wait until they approach you?" Clark aksed.
"They said they would find me." Lois explained.
"Well, let's use some stalling tactics and say we have made contact with Lex and he says he would try to help but needs to clear it up with his father. After all he does not have full control of Lexcorp anymore so it is understandable that he would need to get clearance." He replied
" more worrying is the fact we have to convince my sister that we are dating. This is not going to be easy. I think we need to make up some ground rules…"
"Ground rules? I am not exactly going to ravish you when you are not looking." Clark bantered playfully. "I promise to keep my hands to myself. No seriously, this is not something we can plan; we just need to go with the flow."
Lois smiled. "Ok, you're on, but if it is getting too much for either of us, we have to agree to end the charade. We could say we had an argument or something, and if you feel it is getting uncomfortable because of the impact on your relationship with Lana. That's fine!"
"Good thinking, Lois. Anyway, I think most of my problems are going to involve fighting Lucy off. She was a little intense during her visit to Smallville. Don't worry about my relationship with Lana; after all you and I are only play-acting, aren't we?."
Lois nodded. "Thank you for coming with me. It means more than you will ever know and I will never forget it, I have never asked how you are holding up after the meteor shower. I am so glad your parents are ok."
"Thanks to you my parents are doing well. They think so much of you, Lois, as do I. That is why I am here for you. You don't even think twice before helping someone, you just do it and ask questions later. You're special, Lo and I am sorry that I don't always show appreciation to you."
Lois was blushing. "You do realise we have spent the last five minutes saying nice things about each other. This could ruin our street cred." She laughed.
He smirked. "yeah I know… it is worrying. Don't worry I won't tell anyone else if you don't. To be honest, no-one would believe it anyway."
"Guess not! Do you think we should tell Lucy we are here or wait until we bump into her." Clark asked.
"I don't know. She is at school until 3pm anyway and she lives there. It is about 3 miles out of Interlaken but she spends most of her evenings in town, so we can track her down. Let's get settled in first."
The rest of the journey was spent telling Clark the precise details of what had gone on during her last trip.
They pulled up at the traditional Swiss Chalet that contained their accommodation for the next week or so. The owner showed them to their small but very cosy looking accommodation. It consisted of a room in the attic, with the most fantastic outlook over the lake from the balcony.
"It is gorgeous, isn't?" Lois commented as she opened the doors leading off from the small living area. "I forgot to tell you there is only one bedroom as I did not expect company."
"Don't worry, I will take the sofa. It seems very comfortable. Do you want a coffee? Grab a seat on the balcony and I will bring one out." He suggested.
Lois nodded, quietly enjoying the pampering being offered by Clark. He could be very caring and attentive when he wanted to be. She knew she should enjoy it because as soon as they returned to Smallville, it would stop and they would get back to their usual teasing banter.
It was a lovely late Summer morning, the sun was glistening off the lake as they sat and discussed the plans for the day.
Lois recapped. "So, let's head into town for some late lunch and get you some clothes, since you travelled with literally the clothes on your back. Let's ring Chloe now. Your parents may be wondering where you are?"
Back at the Talon, Chloe was getting prepared to start Met U the following week, and was knee-deep in boxes deciding what she was taking with her. She wondered what had happened to Clark last night as she hadn't heard from anyone including Lois. She knew exactly what Clark and Lana had planned when they left the barn-raising but Lois was not taking any of it when she said she need to talk to him.
Her cell rang with an incoming call. She knew it was a high priority call from the ringtone she had assigned to Clark on their secured line.
"Clark, are you ok?" She asked, knowing he did not ring that line without good reason.
"Look Chloe, I need you to listen…. I am in Switzerland with Lois. She was kidnapped last week whilst visiting Lucy. They want $10million from Lex within a week or they will kill Lucy. Lucy does not know about any of this."
"Oh my god…" Chloe exclaimed. "Where is Lois now?"
Clark passed the phone over to Lois. "I am here, Chlo. and we are both fine. We just need to come up with a plan to deal with the bad guys, unless of course you can suggest an alternative supply of the money."
"Ok, I will work it from this end to find out who these men are and how they can be dealt with. Can you get photos?" Chloe asked.
"We will try. "Clark added as he took the phone back. "I hate to ask Chloe but can you go and see my parents. You can tell them the truth about what is happening but do not let them get involved. Please cover for me with Lana."
"No problem, Clark. I will see what I can find out, but a photo would be a great help, as I can run it through Interpol. And Clark, take care… and look after my cousins."
Chloe hung up and decided there was no time like the present to break the news to the Kents.
Chloe pulled up outside of the Kent Farm and took a deep breath before approaching the door. She had not decided whether she should tell the Kent's that she was in on Clark's secret. He had not given her any guidance on whether she should or not.
The door was ajar.
"Lana, if you hear from Clark could you let us know." Chloe could hear Martha talking on the phone.
As soon as she put the phone down, Chloe heard Jonathan's voice. "She is hiding something, Martha. Clark is obviously staying over at the Talon. They have being hot and heavy for weeks."
Chloe knocked gently on the door. Martha opened it. "Hi Chloe, you have just saved me a job. I was just about to call you."
"Oh…why?" she asked, acting clueless.
"Have a seat. I'll get you a coffee." Jonathan got up and put the kettle on.
"Ok…" Chloe sat down nervously and wished Clark could have called them himself. Why was it always left to her to break the news?
Jonathan and Martha sat down at the other side of the table. "Chloe, we hate to put you in a difficult situation and we know he is over 18 years old, but can you confirm that Clark is staying over with Lana at the Talon."
Chloe smiled nervously. "No, he is actually staying with Lois at the moment."
"Chloe , you don't need to cover for him. We know where he is. Anyway isn't Lois still in Switzerland."
"Yes she is, but the thing is…. Clark is with her. Lois came home yesterday and they flew straight back out to Geneva. I know you will have loads of questions, so I will tell you with the full story."
Chloe told them about Lois's kidnapping and the threat to Lucy.
"We have to do something. I think we need to tell the General." Jonathan grabbed the phone.
Chloe reacted by getting out of her seat. "Mr Kent, please don't. Lois was been warned that any sign of the General and they would kill Lucy straight away."
"But what else can we do?" Martha asked.
"Trust Clark! He will come up with a plan." Chloe replied.
Jonathan put down the phone. " Chloe, this is complicated and we need to sort this. Would you mind going over to ask Lana if she knows anymore?"
Chloe knew it was time. "Mr and Mrs Kent. With all due respect, I know why it is complicated and why you have more reasons to worry than you would have had a few weeks ago. Clark seems to think he can deal with it even without his powers. I know it is worrying but…."
Martha interrupted her. "What are you talking about Chloe?"
"I know all about Clark's origins and his powers, or rather lack of them… I ended up at his Fortress and was there when Jor-el stripped him of his powers."
Jonathan looked concerned. "Well, I guess we should welcome to the club. I know we can trust you with this secret. So you will know how vulnerable he is."
Martha joined in. "Chloe, he had powers for over 15 years and may think he can do more than he actually can. It will be hard going from almost invulnerable to fully human. He said he couldn't be happier about losing his powers but we know deep down he is having reservations."
"Lois and Clark have another 6 days before Lucy is at risk. Let's trust them to come up with a plan. I think the major worry is Clark and Lois surviving the week together."
Martha smiled knowingly.
"Well, I do have a Plan B which we can fall back on…" Chloe sat down and shared her idea…
Meanwhile back in Interlaken, Lois and Clark left the hotel to do some retail therapy.
"I don't know why but I want a complete image change." Clark explained.
Lois smiled. "Ok, Smallville. Lucky for you I am an expert shopper and suggest that we start from the top and work our way down."
Clark looked nervous. "I don't like the sound of that. It sounds a little dodgy to be honest."
"Smallville, get your mind out of the gutter." She replied playfully. "I was thinking of a new haircut to start off with to go with that facial stubble you are rocking at the moment."
He smiled, thinking it was an interesting proposition, bearing in mind he had never been to a barber before. His hair could not be cut whilst he had his powers. The only way he could do it was to reflect his heat vision off some metal, much like the way he shaved. His various small cuts on his face over recent weeks were testament to how out of practice he was at being human.
Half an hour later, Clark emerged out of the barbers with a very modern, short, gelled up haircut. Lois, who was waiting outside, felt her heart skip a beat at the sight of a sexy, cutting edge Clark. Now all he needed was to put on the new Levi's and shirts she had bought for him. She just hoped her father did not check his credit card statement regularly. Even if he did, he would assume it was clothes she had purchased previous to her return to the US.
"You look so different." She stuttered. "You are not helping yourself with Lucy. She will eat you alive now."
He chuckled coyly. "I will tell her I only have eyes for you." His eyes were fixed on her, as were hers on his. It took a few seconds for him to clock the moment between them and to extinguish the mini-sparks that had ignited between them. "Did you get my clothes? I hope I was right to put my trust in you."
She snapped herself out of her connection with him. "Yes and I don't think you will be disappointed."
"I am impressed with your choices." He commented as he came out of the bathroom in one of the casual shirts and new jeans."
God, could he get any hotter? Lois thought to herself as she felt her face flush and realised she was probably the shade of beetroot at that point. "This heat is really getting to me." She excused herself into the bathroom to splash cold water on her face.
She appeared a few moments later. "Listen, do you want to go and grab a coffee? There is a lovely place down the road. We could hang out there until Lucy appears. She normally appears about 5pm."
Clark came back to the table with two Latte's and cheese/ham panini's. "Here we go." He smiled as he placed them down.
He sat down and started to tuck into his food.
Lois looked at him. "Can I just ask you something? What's changed in the past few weeks?"
He looked at her. "What do you mean?"
"There is something different about you and I cannot put my finger on it. Since the meteor shower you just seem different."
He knew exactly what she meant. His lack of powers had made him more laid back. "You mean I don't seem so serious about life, more chilled out, so to speak."
Lois twisted her face. "On the surface, I would have said yes, but deep down there is more to it than that. You always seemed to go around with the weight of the world on your shoulders, as if Clark Kent had to solve the world's problems. Then suddenly you changed overnight as though the weight had been lifted."
Clark interrupted. "So you are saying I am more relaxed and seem happier."
"No, that's the odd thing. At first glance, you seemed chilled out and happy, but then there were glimpses of something else…"
"Of what…" he probed.
"If I did not know better I would say you are going through some kind of grieving process as though you had suffered some sort of loss. You are trying hard to paper over the cracks and act as though your life is all perfect. But, it's not is it?" she explained.
Clark sat back in amazement. Lois had just summed up his recent life changing events in one go. How did she know him so well? She could read him like a book. It all made sense now. He had not even admitted these feelings to himself but here was his house-mate hitting the bulls-eye with one shot….
